Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-16

OF seven years. when he performed at
a concert given in his native town a
concerto 10y Hummeil. The success
of his effort was so marked that his
father consented to allow him to follow
his inclinations and enter upon an
artistic career. For several years he
travelled through Germany, always
meeting with moderate success. In his
souvenirs Of an Impressario" he
gives some amusing facts as to the
salaries of German artists in those
early days. \ tenor in Agram received
then thirty francs a month, and the
star of a company was lucky if his
monthly salary reached a hundred
francs. From Germany he went to Italy
to complete his musical education. He
was provided with letter Of introduce
ton TO Nine. Pasta, for whom Bellini
composed Sonnambula." When he
had completed his studies in the art OF
singing he went to Paris, being in that
city when the revolution of 1913 broke
out. Finding that music and politics
did not agree he started for America,
where he met Salvatore Patti, the father
of Adelina Carlotti Patti, with whom
he had become acquainted in Vienna
in 1913. In 1850 lie married Amelia,
the sister of Adelina CarlOtt Patti, who
survives him. From her eighth to her
eleventh year Adellna Patti travelled
with Maurice StrakoSch, singing in con-
certs, and in his "Souvenirs' he says
that he had frequently to tear her away
from her playmates in order that her in
sructi0n should not be neglected. In
1859 Mr.. Strakosch assumed the direc-
ton of the Italian opera in New York
and arranged for the dsJUt Of Patti,
who was then sixteen years old. This
took place November q, 1859, and
although the young deGUiQRtc had had
but one rehearsal on the piano and one
with the orchestra, her appearance
WAS a triumph. After this success the
imprcssario received propositions from
managers in oil parts of the world. He
first decided to go to Mexico, but,
learning that the bandits controlled the
country and made travel unsafe, he
went TO Cuba. Through the early part
Of her operate career Patti sang under
the management of Mr.. Strakosch. In
1870 he made contract with Christine
Nilsson Ia Liverpool to sing in concerts
in America, guaranteeing her 5000
francs for every performance, when the
receipts exceeded 10000 francs the
diva to have one half Of the surplus
over expenses besides. The success OF
this enterprise was pronounced. For
two seasons the receipts for these con-
certs averaged 10000 francs night. In
1874 the impressario had another sue
cessful season in America with Nilsson
and Campanin; as his attractions. An
other OF Mr.. Strakoschs pupils was
Mile. Sesse, who retired from the ope-
ratio stage after her marriage, and it
was he who first introduced Clara
Louise Kellogg in opera to the London
public.
Deceased was known quite as widely
in England and the United States as in
Paris, and wherever he was known he
was liked. His long experience Of life
in every quarter of the globe had given
him rare fund of anecdote, and his
conversation was set OFF by an originalI-
ty Of expression which gave it pecu-
liar zest. He had remarkable faculty
for acquiring languages, but with the
exception Of Italian, which he had
learned with care, he spoke them all
with strong accent.